ChE Undergraduates Named Inventors on U.S. Patent From Co-op Experience
Graham MacDonald and Hannah Giusti, E’25, chemical engineering, were named as inventors on a U.S. patent for an alternative method of PFAS treatment. The patent-related work was completed during their co-op at Practical Applications, Inc., which exposed them to new technical practices and networking skills.
Graham MacDonald and Hannah Giusti, E’25, chemical engineering, were named by Practical Applications, Inc. as inventors on a groundbreaking U.S. patent for PFAS treatment for work they did while on co-op. The innovative patent introduces a process designed to remove Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), a hazardous substance referred to as a “forever chemical” due to its persistence in the environment and difficulty in removing from contaminated areas, from drinking water to concentrations below the EPA test method detection limit of 0.82 parts per trillion.
Practical Applications says the advanced PFAS treatment technology offers a significant improvement for public water system operators, ensuring compliance with EPA drinking water standards while reducing treatment costs compared to existing adsorption methods. Notably, the new process also eliminates the production of toxic residuals, a common issue with emerging treatment methods.
The current most common treatment method involves adsorbing PFAS using massive beds of activated carbon, which generates large volumes of waste that is costly to dispose of and replace. “We wanted to find a process that would break down these strong chemical bonds,” says Giusti. “Currently, the only way to do that is to provide a ton of energy or heat, which is wasteful and not cost-effective. Our goal was to lower the energy cost by leveraging certain chemical properties.”
MacDonald and Giusti contributed to this development during their chemical engineering co-ops, where they gained hands-on experience working directly on the trials that would eventually lead to the patented treatment. For Giusti, this started at the beginning of her co-op when the trial was in its early stages, where she would characterize the chemical processes from each trial to denote what worked. Macdonald joined at a breakthrough moment in the trials, assisting with experimental design.
As their co-op progressed, MacDonald and Giusti took on additional responsibilities in the project, giving them an in-depth technical experience that exposed them to numerous practices. They remained active project members after completing their co-ops: both contributed weekly during their academic semester as the project continued to evolve, with MacDonald returning to the project full-time that summer.
Initial uncertainty around whether the project would produce a viable treatment for PFAS contamination made the project’s patenting an affirming experience for Giusti, representing the hard work she and the rest of the team put into developing the product.
“It was honestly unreal,” says Giusti. “We had said the whole time that this could possibly be something, but we were never sure if what we had was useful. The fact that it has finally come to fruition is incredible.”
For MacDonald, being named an inventor on the patent has checked off an important milestone early in his career journey. “It’s exciting to be a co-op, not having an engineering degree, and get the chance to have been a part of that project,” he says. “I am very grateful for that opportunity.” MacDonald also shared that he is excited to see what will happen now with the technology at a very pivotal point and awaiting funding.
Along with the PFAS treatment project, MacDonald and Giusti were exposed to many technical and professional practices during their co-ops at Practical Applications. Working as members of the consulting team, MacDonald and Giusti gained experience working one-on-one with customers to resolve issues in the field and develop new systems in the lab. Much of this was done independently, which MacDonald says motivated him to perform well and helped build his professional communication skills.
“It was a little daunting at first, but I ended up enjoying owning it,” says MacDonald. “I look back on that as one of the things I’m very proud of from that co-op.”
MacDonald and Giusti could also work on projects outside their primary responsibilities, allowing them to diversify their skills. Giusti recalls her experiences with computer coding during her co-op, which strengthened her skills beyond what she had learned in class. “I took a coding class, but beyond that, I didn’t have much experience,” she says, “so I learned a lot of that, which was really helpful.”
Both MacDonald and Giusti credit their Practical Applications supervisor and Northeastern alumnus Gary Broberg, E’89, chemical engineering, for allowing them to explore the field and being a supportive mentor during their co-ops. “I learned so much from him and the team I was working on,” says MacDonald.
The work experience MacDonald and Giusti gained during their co-ops has proven integral to their future pursuits. For Giusti, a former behavioral neuroscience major who switched to chemical engineering after her first year of classes, Practical Applications gave her a better understanding of the field. Co-op also helped her discover her interest in research, which she hopes to pursue in future co-ops and campus research positions.
“Before this experience, I was super against doing research,” says Giusti. “After this experience, I realized how much I enjoy it, and I think my fear of being stuck in a lab was the only thing holding me back.”
MacDonald found the experiences from his co-op at Practical Applications crucial in securing his current co-op at Ashland Inc. “I had the site work, plus some other projects that I think really helped me,” he says.
MacDonald and Giusti still have time before they graduate and begin their postgraduate careers. However, they both feel prepared for when this day comes, thanks to the experiences they gained during their co-ops.
“I can only imagine what I would have to offer if I weren’t at this school and in this program,” says MacDonald. “I would have just been in classes.”
“It’s been nice to have this opportunity to test run jobs and see where I might and might not want to work,” says Giusti. “It’s a really great opportunity to network and meet people in the field.”